Listen to our CEO and Founder, Franklin Cudjoe on JOY FM, briefly explaining some the issues behind the roll-out of the problematic UNIPASS ports system and why this process must be halted .
Background
Covid-19 has erased almost 6% of the country’s expected end-year growth of 7.5% leaving in its trail huge gaps in our finances. The disturbing reports about numerous false starts of the UNI-PASS system reports do not only deal a blow to the enhanced paperless system that propelled an increase in port revenues from GHS 8bn in 2016 to a little over GHS 13bn in 2017 and 2018, working with WEST BLUE and GCNET port technologies, it is likely to detract from the assured average daily revenues of almost GHS 33m and ultimately jeopardise the flow of trade. Meanwhile you could do the following: 1) Temporarily suspend operations of UNI-PASS and allow GCNET and West Blue to operate for the remainder of the year in order to assure the nation of revenues, most likely GHS10bn given depressed trade activity due to covid-19. 2) Conduct an independent review of the UNI-PASS system. 3)The Ministry of Trade and Finance should share revenue projections from implementing UNI-PASS with Ghanaians.